By Xinhua,
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt : The World Economic Forum (WEF) kicked off its annual meeting on the Middle East at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated the meeting by giving a keynote speech at the opening session of the three-day event, which was attended by some 14 heads of state and government including U.S. President George W. Bush.
Bush is now giving a special address at the opening session on the situation of the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian issue.
On Saturday, Bush reassured his commitment to achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the end of the year.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Egyptian Red Sea resort, Bush said he was “absolutely committed” to the objective to achieve the Mideast peace deal as “it breaks my heart” to see the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The WEF Mideast conference also brought together over 1,500 high-ranking officials, leading business figures, leaders of civil society and the media from some 60 countries and regions.
With the theme of “Learning from the Future,” the three-day event will focus on a series of futuristic scenarios that explore the impact of long-term global trends on the Middle East.
Some hot topics, such as regional tourism, water resources, sustainable development in the region, soaring food prices and the consequences of global inflation on Mideast, will also be high on the agenda of the international meeting.
Incorporated as a foundation in 1971 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.